Politics

Former Tax Chief Arrested over NIS Covert Operation

Write 2018-02-13 08:52:11, Update 2018-02-13 10:29:11

A former head of the National Tax Service(NTS) has been arrested for alleged involvement in the state spy agency's secret operation against late President Kim Dae-jung during the Lee Myung-bak government.

The Seoul Central District Court on Tuesday issued an arrest warrant for Lee Hyun-dong, saying that most charges were proven and the suspect may destroy evidence.

Lee, who headed the NTS from 2010 to 2013, is suspected of conducting a covert operation code-named "Davidson" along with the National Intelligence Service in 2010 to look into rumors that the late president had stashed a slush fund offshore.

These suspicions were later proven groundless after a two-year probe.

Lee is accused of mobilizing NTS officials for the covert operation and taking tens of millions of won from the spy agency for his support of the operation.